The Xbox Series S has finally been officially announced after Microsoft unveiled the console's design. The system is significantly smaller than the Xbox Series X and utilizes a more traditional, flatter rectangular shape as opposed to the Series X's almost cubical width. As of now, only a white model has been revealed, but more colors may be announced later on.
The design itself feels familiar and has a lot of similarities with the Xbox One S, especially the disc-less version, with its slimmer build and white coloring. The One S had a gray alternate that came bundled with Battlefield 1, so the same treatment may be in the cards for the Series S later, though given its rumored differences in capabilities compared to the Series X, it may not be the console Microsoft wants to bring attention to with special editions and bundles.
What does separate it from the One S is a prominent and contrasting black vent on the side of the console. The One S has a similar circular exhaust, but it's better hidden by the design of its casing. Since it's presumably on the upward facing side, it will stand out when the Series S lays horizontally. Not everyone is pleased with the design. To some, the large circle is distracting and unappealing. However, the circle itself serves an important purpose: ventilation. Certainly a device that is half the size of a Series X (which has a similar looking vent at the top) that runs the same games would generate an immense amount of heat, making a large vent vital.
Controversial vents aside, the Series S is a more traditional approach to an Xbox console, something that may be appealing to some gamers. Both the Series X and the PlayStation 5 have been mocked for their unique shapes, as they are major departures from any of their predecessors. There's also the issue of size. It won't really be clear how the new consoles will fit into homes and gaming setups until they launch, but considering that current-gen consoles fit on most entertainment systems, the Series X's size will definitely require buyers to move some things around to make room for it.
The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 both received slimmer versions, and the Series S' look is more inline with those than the other next-gen consoles. With its size and color mixed with a prominent black vent that's both unconventional looking and necessary for its capabilities, the Xbox Series S is, from a design perspective, a perfect midway point between current and next-gen hardware.